Early results point to gridlock in Italy

Monday

Feb 25, 2013 at 12:01 AMFeb 25, 2013 at 1:00 PM

ROME (AP) — Italy's crucial elections appeared to be heading toward gridlock today, initial results showed, with the center-left forces of Pier Luigi Bersani moving toward victory in the lower house of Parliament and the camp of former premier Silvio Berlusconi gaining the upper hand in the equally powerful Senate.

The upstart protest campaign of comic-turned-political agitator Beppe Grillo was also showing a stunningly strong result in both houses of the legislature, confirming its surprise role as a force in Italian politics.

The unfolding murky result bode badly for the Italians' willingness to endure more tough reforms the country needs to snuff out its economic crisis and tame nervous markets. After rising in the wake of initial exit polls, Milan's main stock index turned southward with the first official projections.

If the results verify that Parliament is split, Italy could be headed to new elections in the coming months.

The Italian election has been one of the most fluid in the past two decades thanks to the emergence of Grillo's 5 Star Movement, which has capitalized on a wave of voter disgust with the ruling political class and harsh austerity measures imposed by incumbent technocrat Premier Mario Monti.

The decisions Italy's government makes over the next several months promise to have a deep impact on whether Europe can decisively stem its financial crisis.

Bersani's coalition — which has shown a pragmatic streak in supporting tough economic reforms spearheaded by Monti — was leading in the lower house of Parliament, according to exit polls.

Bersani's coalition has taken 35.5 percent of the vote for the lower house of parliament, ahead of the center-right coalition under Berlusconi with 29 percent, the polls indicated.

In the Senate, projections by the Piepoli Institute for RAI public TV showed Berlusconi's coalition slightly ahead, with 31 percent to Bersani's 30 percent.